1. Cooking Oils Turn Green Chemists: A Sustainable Solution for Silver Recovery from E-Waste

Context: In a remarkable breakthrough, Finnish researchers have discovered a green and sustainable chemical process that uses natural fatty acids found in vegetable cooking oils to recover silver from electronic waste (e-waste). This innovation aligns with the urgent global need to tackle e-waste and meet the surging demand for silver in various industries.

What is E-Waste and Why It Matters:

Electronic waste, or e-waste, includes discarded electronic and electrical devices such as smartphones, laptops, TVs, and household appliances that are no longer functional or have become outdated. With technological upgrades accelerating, e-waste is now one of the fastest-growing waste streams worldwide.

• India ranks third globally in e-waste generation, after China and the United States.
• According to the World Silver Survey 2024, industrial usage now accounts for over 50% of global silver demand.
• However, only 15% of silver is currently recycled, causing massive wastage of this non-renewable, precious metal.

The E-Waste Problem in India: A Snapshot

Despite being a tech-savvy and digital-forward nation, India’s e-waste management system is fraught with structural issues:

• Limited Consumer Incentives: There is a lack of financial or logistical motivation for individuals to return old electronics responsibly.
• Inadequate Infrastructure: Many Tier-II and Tier-III cities lack authorized e-waste collection centers.
• Dominance of the Informal Sector: Over 90–95% of e-waste is processed by informal scrap dealers using hazardous methods like acid leaching and open burning, posing serious health and environmental risks.
• Grey Imports: Used electronics often enter India as “donations” or “refurbished” items, which eventually contribute to the e-waste load.

Silver Recovery Using Cooking Oils: A Green Game-Changer

Traditional silver extraction from e-waste involves toxic chemicals that generate hazardous residues. The new eco-friendly method, however, leverages unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic acid and linolenic acid—commonly found in sunflower, groundnut, olive, and soybean oils.

How the Process Works:

1. These fatty acids are combined with 30% hydrogen peroxide to create a green solvent.
2. This solvent dissolves silver from circuit boards under mild and safe conditions.
3. Ethyl acetate, a low-toxicity solvent, is then used to separate and recover pure silver.

This method not only reduces environmental harm but also offers a cost-effective and scalable alternative for developing countries like India.

Policy & Government Action on E-Waste in India:

India has taken several notable steps to address its growing e-waste burden:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Under this, manufacturers and brands are held responsible for the collection and recycling of their end-of-life products.
• An online EPR portal, managed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), facilitates registration and monitoring of producers, recyclers, and refurbishers.
• The E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022 replaced the 2016 rules with more stringent norms and accountability.
• India’s first e-waste clinic was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, providing a dedicated facility for collection, segregation, and processing of electronic waste.

Global and Environmental Significance:

• Silver is a critical component in solar panels, electric vehicles, medical devices, and consumer electronics.
• With global silver demand projected to increase by over 15% by 2030, sustainable recovery methods are crucial.
• By integrating green chemistry into recycling, India can also move closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Goal 13 (Climate Action)

Way Forward: Turning Waste into Wealth

India stands at a crucial crossroads where its digital growth must be balanced with ecological responsibility. The cooking oil-based silver recovery method is not just a scientific innovation but a symbol of circular economy thinking—where waste becomes a resource.

The future of e-waste management lies not just in containing the damage, but in extracting value, preserving human health, and fueling green economic growth.

If adopted widely, such green technologies can play a pivotal role in building a “Viksit Bharat”—an India that is not only technologically advanced but also environmentally resilient and globally responsible.

2. Preserving India’s Traditional Seeds: A Heritage of Resilience, Culture, and Food Sovereignty

Context: India’s diverse agro-ecological heritage is deeply rooted in traditional seed varieties that have sustained farming communities for centuries. However, a recent study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has raised alarms over the gradual erosion of indigenous seed knowledge, particularly the weakening intergenerational transfer of this vital resource. As modern agriculture becomes increasingly commercialised, preserving our native seeds has become both an environmental and cultural imperative.

Why Traditional Seeds Matter More Than Ever:

1. Genetic and Ecological Diversity: Traditional seed varieties possess a rich genetic base, unlike modern monocultures that are vulnerable to pest infestations and diseases. These indigenous seeds naturally promote resilient polycultures, ensuring stability and yield even under stress conditions.
2. Built-In Climate Resilience: With climate change triggering extreme weather events like droughts, floods, and cloudbursts, traditional seeds act as natural insurance. In mixed-cropping systems, if one variety fails, others often thrive—ensuring food security for farming households.
3. Sustainable and Chemical-Free Farming: Many of these seeds are open-pollinated and self-replicating, perfectly suited for organic farming practices. Unlike commercial hybrids or genetically modified (GM) seeds, they do not require annual purchase or chemical inputs, lowering both costs and ecological impact.

Community Seed Banks: A Grassroots Lifeline:

Community Seed Banks (CSBs) serve as vital hubs where farmers borrow traditional seeds and return double the quantity post-harvest. These local systems help maintain seed sovereignty, especially in tribal and ecologically sensitive regions. However, despite their importance:

• India lacks a robust policy framework to support CSBs.
• The Seed Bill, 2019 remains pending, with no formal recognition or integration of community seed systems into the national strategy.

Challenges Facin Traditional Seed Conservation:

1. Youth Disengagement: Modern agricultural narratives glorify hybrid and GM seeds for their supposed high yields. As a result, young farmers are moving away from ancestral seed practices, creating a serious knowledge gap.
2. Lack of Government Support: Most CSBs are operated by NGOs or self-help groups and function with limited funding. They are excluded from mainstream agricultural schemes, receiving neither recognition nor incentives.
3. Loss of Cultural Practices: Seed-saving traditions like “Rotiyaana” in Uttarakhand—which blend cultural rituals with farming wisdom—are slowly disappearing. The oral and family-based knowledge transfer system is under threat.
4. Legal Loopholes and Biopiracy Risks: Even with frameworks like the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA), poor documentation leaves “common knowledge” varieties vulnerable. Unscrupulous individuals can privatize traditional seeds, risking biopiracy and cultural theft.

Inspiring Seed Conservation Models Across India:

• Odisha’s Niyamgiri Foothills: Farmers practice diverse cropping—from millets to medicinal herbs—enhancing ecological resilience.
• Uttarakhand’s Barah Anaj System: Revived by the Beej Bachao Andolan, it involves cultivating 12 traditional crops together, reinforcing biodiversity.
• Teeratha Village, Karnataka: Through Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) under the Sahaja Samrudha CSB Network, youth actively test millet varieties in “diversity blocks.”
• Chizami, Nagaland: A women-led CSB not only conserves seeds but also conducts training for youth and schoolchildren, reviving lost knowledge.
• In many parts of India, women preserve seeds in mud pots, bamboo baskets, or with neem leaves—a chemical-free and time-tested storage technique.
• The Bharat Beej Swaraj Manch (BBSM) has been hosting seed festivals in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, and Hyderabad since 2014, celebrating seed sovereignty as a citizen-driven movement.

The Road Ahead: From Conservation to Cultural Renaissance

1. Legal and Policy Reforms:

• Fast-track the documentation of traditional varieties.
• Prevent exploitation by recognizing farmer-bred seeds as public heritage.
• Ensure CSBs are formally integrated into national seed policies.

2. Engaging the Next Generation:

• Launch award and grant schemes for young seed savers.
• Include seed-saving techniques in school curricula and rural skilling programmes.
• Leverage platforms like National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) to support young agro-entrepreneurs.

3. Decentralised Preservation Systems:

• Promote in-situ conservation in forests and home farms.
• Develop cluster-based CSBs—with one seed bank for every 100–200 villages to ensure localised biodiversity and accessibility.

4. Cultural Revitalisation:

• Use folk traditions, fairs, and community rituals to reignite youth interest in indigenous seeds.
• Encourage seed exchange festivals to revive community participation and pride in heritage crops.

Conclusion: Seeds of the Past, Future of Our Agriculture

Preserving India’s traditional seed wealth is not merely a scientific or agricultural task—it’s a cultural and civilisational mission. These seeds embody our history, our biodiversity, and our food future. Through community action, supportive policies, and youth engagement, India can restore its rightful place as a global leader in sustainable and sovereign agriculture.

3. SIPRI Annual Report 2025: Rising Tensions in a World of Expanding Nuclear Arsenals

Context: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has released its much-anticipated Annual Report 2025, offering a comprehensive overview of the current state of global military forces, nuclear arsenals, and the shrinking space for disarmament diplomacy. The findings paint a picture of a world edging closer to a renewed arms race, with nuclear-armed states expanding and modernising at an unprecedented pace.

Global Nuclear Forces: Numbers That Raise Alarms

As of January 2025, the total number of nuclear warheads globally stood at 12,241, of which:

• 9,614 are part of military stockpiles—either deployed or available for use.
• 3,912 warheads are deployed, actively mounted on missiles or stationed at military bases.
• Approximately 2,100 warheads are on high operational alert, primarily controlled by the United States and Russia.

Country-Specific Warhead Estimates (2025):

• India: 180 stored warheads
• Pakistan: 170 stored warheads
• China: 600 warheads, including 24 deployed
• USA & Russia: Together hold about 90% of global nuclear weapons

This data underscores a critical reality: while the Cold War may have ended, the nuclear threat has not.

Modernisatin and Arsenal Expansion: A Dangerous Trend

All nine nuclear-armed states—United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea—continued to modernise and upgrade their nuclear weapons and delivery systems in 2024.

• India made modest additions to its arsenal and invested in the development of advanced missile systems and delivery technologies.
• Pakistan continued accumulating fissile material and expanded its missile capabilities, signaling an intention to scale up its arsenal.
• China saw a rapid expansion, adding around 100 nuclear warheads annually since 2023. At this pace, it could possess over 1,000 warheads by 2032.

These developments suggest a shift from a deterrence-based posture to an assertive display of nuclear capability.

Global Military Expenditure Hits Record High:

In 2024, global military spending surged to a staggering $2.7 trillion, marking a 9.4% year-on-year increase.

Top Military Spenders (2024):

• United States: $997 billion
• China: $314 billion

Top Arms Importers (2020–2024):

• Ukraine
• India
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Pakistan

Top Arms Exporters (2020–2024):

• USA: 43% of global arms exports
• France: 9.6%
• Russia: 7.8%

This massive investment highlights the growing militarization of international relations, where hard power continues to dominate over diplomacy.

The Shrinking Space for Arms Control and Disarmament:

One of SIPRI’s most pressing concerns is the erosion of global arms control frameworks. Despite rhetorical commitments, no major nuclear power is showing genuine intent to reduce arsenals or halt modernization.

• The New START Treaty—the last major arms reduction pact between the USA and Russia—is set to expire in February 2026.
• Without a new agreement, the number of deployed strategic warheads could rise sharply post-2026.

Furthermore, technological innovations such as Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), canisterised launch systems, and AI-enabled command and control are making nuclear weapons more sophisticated—and more dangerous.

Rising Nuclear Aspirations Beyond the Traditional Nine:

SIPRI notes a disturbing trend: revived debates on nuclear armament in East Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. With growing geopolitical uncertainties, some nations are reconsidering their non-nuclear status and may pursue indigenous nuclear programs, potentially leading to proliferation beyond the current nine.

Conclusion: At a Crossroads Between Security and CatastropheThe SIPRI 2025 Report is a stark reminder that the nuclear threat is not a relic of the past, but an escalating challenge in today’s geopolitical climate. Despite decades of disarmament dialogues, modernisation, expansion, and a breakdown in diplomacy are now the defining features of global security.

4. Harnessing Technology for Smarter Disaster Management in India

Context: In a significant step towards strengthening India’s disaster preparedness, Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently unveiled three cutting-edge platforms designed to enhance the speed, coordination, and accuracy of disaster management efforts. These are:

• Integrated Control Room for Emergency Response (ICR-ER)
• National Database for Emergency Management Lite 2.0 (NDEM Lite 2.0)
• Flood Hazard Zonation Atlas of Assam

These platforms utilize satellite data, digital mapping, and real-time analytics to assist authorities in taking quicker, data-driven decisions, especially in high-risk areas.

India’s High Disaster Risk: A Wake-Up Call

Due to its diverse and dynamic geo-climatic profile, India remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters:

• 58.6% of landmass is prone to earthquakes
• Over 12% is at risk from floods and river erosion
• Nearly 68% of cultivable land is vulnerable to drought
• Coastal states regularly face cyclones and tsunamis
• Hilly terrains in the north and northeast are prone to landslides

This vulnerability demands a robust, technology-driven, and community-centered disaster management system.

India’s Disaster Management Framework: From Reactive to Proactive

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 laid the foundation for a structured and institutional approach to dealing with disasters. Key components include:

• National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as the apex body
• The National Disaster Management Plan (NDMP), first issued in 2016 and revised in 2019
• Integration with global frameworks like:
  • Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR)
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Paris Climate Agreement
  • Prime Minister’s 10-Point Agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction

Major Initiatives and Ground-Level Progress:

India has made remarkable progress in recent years:

• Zero casualties in Cyclone Biparjoy, a dramatic shift from the 10,000 deaths in the 1999 Odisha super cyclone
• Aapda Mitra Scheme trained 1 lakh community volunteers in 350 multi-hazard districts
• New Yuva Aapda Mitra Scheme launched with 470 crore to train an additional 1 lakh volunteers, 20% of them women
• National Landslide Risk Mitigation Programme implemented in 15 states, including Kerala
• Early warning systems, weather forecasting, and public awareness campaigns have improved significantly
• Budgetary commitments:
  • SDRF: from 38,000 crore to 1.44 lakh crore
  • NDRF: from 28,000 crore to ₹84,000 crore
  • Overall disaster fund: increased to 2 lakh crore
  • National Disaster Risk Management Fund: 68,000 crore

India is also leading on the global stage with initiatives like:

• Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)
• International Solar Alliance
• Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Persistent Challenges and Critical Gaps:

Despite progress, long-term resilience remains a weak link:

• Environmental sustainability is often ignored in relief and recovery phases, leading to pollution and resource degradation
• Disasters in Uttarakhand (2021) and Himachal Pradesh (2024) exposed the need for community-driven recovery strategies
• Over-dependence on central agencies can weaken local governance and response capacity

The Way Forward: Building a Resilient India:

India’s disaster management strategy has evolved into a comprehensive, multi-phased system—yet there’s more to be done. Here’s how we can strengthen it:

1. Local Empowerment: Train and equip local leaders, panchayats, and community groups with the resources and knowledge to respond independently and effectively.
2. Eco-centric Recovery: Use eco-friendly shelters, green infrastructure, and sustainable waste management systems during reconstruction.
3. Nature-Based Solutions: Protect and restore natural buffers like mangroves, wetlands, and forests to reduce the intensity of cyclones, floods, and landslides.
4. Integrated Risk Planning: Disaster response should be coordinated with health emergencies, environmental crises, and infrastructure planning.
5. Technology with Inclusivity: Ensure that new platforms like ICR-ER and NDEM Lite 2.0 are accessible to state and district-level responders, not just national agencies.
6. Education and Culture: Incorporate disaster risk education into school curricula, promote community awareness, and revive traditional coping mechanisms.

Conclusion: From Preparedness to ResilienceIndia’s journey in disaster management shows that policy, preparedness, and people’s participation can save lives and protect livelihoods. However, the focus must now shift from merely responding to disasters to building long-term resilience—through technology, environmental stewardship, and local empowerment.

5. Lac Insect and Its Pigment Mystery Unveiled by IISc Researchers

Context: In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have decoded the biological enigma behind the production of laccaic acid—the vibrant red compound used in lac pigment. This pigment, extracted from the lac insect, is widely used in food colouring, textiles, dyes, folk art, and handicrafts.

The latest study reveals that the insect does not make laccaic acid entirely on its own. Instead, a symbiotic, yeast-like fungus inside the insect plays a vital role in its synthesis.

What is the Lac Insect?

The lac insect is a small, sap-sucking insect best known for secreting shellac, a sticky resin with multiple commercial applications.

• It is a hemimetabolous insect, meaning it undergoes gradual metamorphosis—passing through egg, nymph, pupal, and adult stages.
• Reproduction is ovoviviparous, where eggs hatch inside the female’s body and young ones are released.
• The life cycle completes in about six months.
• These insects settle on host trees such as the flame of the forest, feeding on sugary sap and producing lac resin.

India has two major strains of lac insects:

• Kusumi (grows on Kusum trees)
• Rangeeni (grows on various other trees like Ber and Palash)

Species and Distribution:

• The most economically important species is Laccifer lacca, which belongs to one of the six known genera of lac insects, only five of which secrete lac, and only one produces commercial-quality lac.
• India and Thailand are the world’s leading lac producers.
• In India, over 90% of lac production comes from states like:
  • Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal
  • Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
  • Northern Odisha, Eastern Maharashtra

Uses of Lac Pigment:

Lac pigment is a natural, eco-friendly dye highly sought after for:

• Food-grade colouring
• Traditional textiles and garments
• Handicrafts and lacquerware
• Folk painting and natural cosmetics

Its organic nature makes it an attractive alternative to synthetic dyes.

Breakthrough in Understanding Laccaic Acid:

The IISc study brings attention to an unexpected contributor to the production of laccaic acid—a symbiotic fungus living inside the insect’s body.

• The insect cannot synthesize one essential component—tyrosine, an amino acid needed for pigment production.
• This gap is filled by a yeast-like fungus that lives inside the insect’s haemolymph (the insect equivalent of blood).
• The fungus enters the egg cell (oocyte) during development, ensuring it passes to the next generation.
• This relationship is mutualistic: the insect provides shelter and nutrients, while the fungus supplies critical biosynthetic molecules.

Such symbiotic relationships are common in nature—termites, aphids, and even some beetles host bacteria or fungi that help them digest food or produce essential compounds.

Why This Matters:

• The study opens the door to biotechnological applications, such as bioengineering microbes to produce natural pigments without relying on insects.
• Understanding the microbiome-insect link could also help improve lac cultivation practices, making it more sustainable and productive.
• It deepens our appreciation of the complex ecosystems inside tiny organisms, where even pigments are the product of co-evolution and biological partnerships.

Conclusion: A Tiny Insect with a Big Impact

The lac insect, though small in size, plays a monumental role in rural economies, traditional arts, and sustainable industry. With cutting-edge research shedding light on the insect-fungus partnership behind pigment production, India has an opportunity to lead in eco-conscious dye technology and natural product innovation.

6. Iran in Focus: A Strategic Power in the Crosshairs of Global Attention

Context: In a fresh escalation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed damage to uranium enrichment facilities at Iran’s Natanz nuclear site, following Israeli airstrikes conducted under Operation Rising Lion. The attack was verified through high-resolution satellite imagery, highlighting growing tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Key Nuclear Facilities in Iran

Iran houses several critical nuclear installations, some of which are under continuous international scrutiny:

• Natanz Enrichment Facility – Main target of the recent strikes
• Fordow Enrichment Facility – Built deep underground for added protection
• Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant – Iran’s first civilian nuclear plant
• Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center – Used for uranium conversion and fuel production

These facilities form the backbone of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme, which it claims is for peaceful purposes, though Western powers remain skeptical.

Political Geography of Iran:

• Capital: Tehran
• Region: Located in the Middle East, Iran occupies a strategic position linking Central Asia, South Asia, and the Arab world.
• Water Bodies:
  • South: Borders the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman
  • North: Touches the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water

Bordering Nations of Iran:

Iran shares land boundaries with seven countries, giving it immense geopolitical significance:

• North: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan
• West: Iraq
• Northwest: Turkey
• East: Afghanistan and Pakistan

This positioning places Iran at the nexus of major trade routes and security flashpoints.

Geographical Landscape:

Iran is shaped by diverse landforms and extreme terrains, including:

• The Iranian Plateau – A dominant feature that covers much of the country
• Deserts:
  • Dasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert)
  • Dasht-e Lut – One of the hottest places on Earth, known for its stunning sand formations

• Mountain Ranges:
  • Zagros Mountains (West) – Natural barrier with Iraq
  • Alborz Mountains (North) – Home to Mount Damavand, the highest peak in Iran and the tallest volcano in Asia

Did You Know?

• Iran holds the second-largest natural gas reserves in the world and the fourth-largest proven crude oil reserves.
• Mount Damavand, standing at 5,610 meters, is not only a national symbol but also appears in Persian mythology.

The Strait of Hormuz, near Iran’s southern coast, is a critical global oil chokepoint through which one-fifth of the world’s petroleum passes.

Conclusion: Iran – A Nation at the Crossroads of Power, Pressure, and Potential

Iran’s strategic geography, rich natural resources, and nuclear trajectory make it a focal point in global geopolitics. As international tensions rise and regional dynamics shift, Iran remains a critical player whose moves will shape the future of Middle Eastern stability and global security.